Furnace for melting metals



`Qing the metal pieces separated, preverit-ing Patented May 21, 19.29,

. UNITEDN STATES 1,113,543 PATENT oFF1cE./

ADOLPH W.v MACHLET, orV ELIZABETH, JERSEY.

FURNACE FOR, Mauriac METALS.

Applicationv filed April 15,

'This'linvention relates to melting` brass, copper, .iron and other nieta-ls and small or large quantities. .Y

'In the usual open hearth or other rever- 5' beratory furnace, the top layer or portion of metal isdirectly exposed to flames, for -the purpose of melting not only the top ortion but the underlying portions as \?vel'.j.'l .`hetop portion becomes greatl overheatedrj- 1`0 There' is great over-consumption offuel, inf.' comparison vwith the .actual change `thatshould take place in the heat of metal in pass-v ing from a eo'ld state to a melted state. Moreover there is enormous Waste of metal from oxidation which occurs quickly at and above A.the melting point, as for example inthe case `of iron, or brass. The zinc component of brass and other alloys evaporates quickly. when heated to orabove the melting point of the alloy. '4 One ofthe usual difficulties in meltingbrass `scrap is that the zinc is all burned out from "the brass scrap` by contact with the llames.' In a reverberatory furnace the Whole top surfac'e of the metal is'subjected'to the process of combustion, and the loss from both oxida tion and evaporation is veryl great, and continues from start to finish of the vmelting operation. a0. In a cupola furnace the lumps offuel and- 4 :the lumps of metal are mixed, the fuel keepthe metallumps from fusing' together and y.choking the cupola. The loss from oxidation and evaporation is very high, andlin A this and other furnaces it is necessary to a-dd flux at short intervals, Whichis an objection, particularly/When only a vsma-llyoutput of melted metal is required. .I f

The use of the ordinary cruciblejfor melting is also open 'to the objection that there must be a great over-consumption of fuel in .proportion to the. small amount of metal 'which is melted in the crucible. The principal object of the in'ventionis to melt brass, iron, copper androther4 metalsl and alloys withv greatfeconomy of heat and great reduction in the Waste of metal fromL oxidation and evaporation, and also to make itl practicable to melt the metal in small quanti' ties Wheredesired. A

According to th'e present invention, the scraps or lumps of metalY are heated nearly to the melting point by exposing them to'heat 5.3 which below-melting heat. Up to this alloys, in ,1v

' absorb nearly sufficient heat to effect its meltarea thereo 192s. serial mi. 102,097.

stage, neither oxidation nor evaporation occurs. In other words, the metal 1s caused to ing, Without exposing the metalto loss from oxidation or evaporation. While the metal is 'in this hot' condition, it is exposed foixa.l ver'yshort time to meltin heat, thus minimizing the opportunity or oxidation and l@Vaporation., so that loss Iof metal is greatly reduced., Moreover,` theinetalis exposed to melting heat over only a comparatively small 1 f, thus stillfurther reducing the oss. Amagazinehavin withgthe scrap! or otlier. metal, the bottom of the shaft dischargingintoa crucible which is set within argas 0r oil.l or electrically-heated furnace, and the flames from the burners fura shaft orbarrel is filled Irish-enough heat tov melt the lowest stratum of metal. The hot gases or products of com.

bustion circulate -upv around the magazine, and theirheat is partly absorbed by the'metal,

and -so at the top of the shaft 'the heat' of the metal is least, While at the bottom it is greatest. The vertical column of metal sinks in the magazine or shaft (which is fed from the top) andas each portion of metal descends its heat is increased, although still remaining below the oxidizing or evaporating point, until it reaches a crucible at the bottom of `the magazine. The 'crucible sets in the the flames supply sufficiently high heat to convert the already softened metal into fluid, Whichisv collected ina pot, the melted metal being then drawn off at short intervals.

Iii-this melter the heatis not applied at the u top, and the heat is not at first received from the fuel direct. and therefore the metal comes to a vhigh heat without coming into contact with the fuel. At the point of melting, it is only the top surface of the melted contents of the crucible that is exposed to the direct -irst heatingstages, nor, in fact, until it is actually brought to the melting point. OW- ing tol the fact that brass and other scraps have large surfaces in. proportion to their bulk, heat is rapidly absorbed, and only a y, short exposure to melting heat is required,

i all of the heat of the fuel is absorbed by the metal, thus effecting great economy. A large part of this heat is absorbed before the metal .finally becomes melted, Whiehis a novel feature in this art. All of the heat units are utilized that it is practicable to utilize.

One of the objects of the invention is to facilitate the use of industrial gas .for the purpose of melting metal. 'There may be melted iron suitable for malleable iron castings, Where's1nall,'fine castings are required.

. It is not usual to prepare malleable iron'in a furnacevvhich uses gas. Itl is not required to melt iron for large malleable castings, but it is used mainly for` small castings, and this invention has particular value in this field.

In the preferred form of the invention, no atmospheric air enters the furnace except through the burners.' By means of regulators the most economical and best results are obtained by thinning the gas mixture with air 'until a mixture is secured Which gives a maximum of heat. But When such mixture is employed, it results that the oxygen in the mixture is not entirely used up. There enters the furnace in the combustible mixture a surplus of oxygen, that is, more oxygen than is used up in consuming the fuel gas Which forms part ofthe mixture.` and it is .this surplus oxygen which oxidizes some of the melted metal. This surplus oxygen cannot be entirely avoided, inasmuch as unless the air y and gas are admited to the furnace in the usual proportions, the required degree of heat cannot be attained. The overplus oxygen attacks the melted metals and oxidizes the same to a certain extent, which is a detriment.

' One of the further objects of the invention therefore is to minimize or prevent the oxidation which occurs when the most economical mixture of fuel gas and air is employed.

To overcome this loss of melted metal. through oxidation, means is provided for avoiding the attack upon the melted metal by the surplus oxygen.- This is don`e by the separate introduction into the furnace of combustible means which will unit-e with said surplus oxygen more readily than Will the metal. This means consists preferably of a fuel gas which is separately admitted to the furnace in rau' condition, that is, unmixed With air. A

proportion of five per cent or more of fuel gas, admitted through a separate orifice into the furnace (which is filled With flames from combustion of the mixture suppliedby the regular burners), Will suflice to take up the surplus oxygen from the regular burners and combine therewith, thereby neutralizing or preventing said surplus oxygen from uniting with the metal. This neutralizing gas for the surplus oxygen, although it constitutes an over-supply of fuel, does not diminish the heat of the melting furnace, because it may be ad mitted through a separate orifice or burner, and preferably under lower pressure than the mixture of fuel gas and air. lNhen the furnace is in operation.l there is a slight pressure therein and atmospheric air cannot enter the furnace and combine with said neutralizing gas, and the latter can only burn by combining with the surplus of oxygen that has already been introduced into the furnace, whereby said surplus of oxygen is precluded from attacking the melted metal.

The fuel gas and air may be mixed and compressed'at a point outside of the` furnace, and the mixture supp-lied directly to the burners. The supply of auxiliary or neutralizing fuel gas may be taken directly from the gassupp'ly main, through a regulating Valve; or oil may be used.

The proportion of about five per cent of raw fuel gas to ninety-five per centof the usual gas and air fuel mixture sullices for combination With allof the surplus oxygen, so that the metal is melted by flames from Which substantially all of the oxygen has-been extracted in this manner.

Another advantage is that metal having a carbon content may be melted With but little if any loss of the carbon, Which is an advantage, especially if such carbon content is'low; the raw gas or oil or other raw fuel taking up the surplus of oxygen that is in the compressed fuel mixture, and preventing said surplus from robbing the melted metal of its carbon.

@ther features and advantages Will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a central sectional elevation of one form of melter showing the present invention.-

' Figure 2 section, on the line 2 2 of Figure l. y

'Figure 3 is an elevation with parts broken away, showing the dame-chamber of thev melter detached from the preheating oven, to permit the former to be conveniently rolled away for repairs.

Figure 4 is a sectional plan, showing the flame-chamber and other elements of the bottom of the furnace. l

The melter may be a self-feeder, the stock l0 of metal lumps and scraps being deposited in a pre-heating magazine, the upper part is a plan of the same, partlyin may be kept filled, so as to lmaintain the weight of the descendingv stock at a maximum, and

' also s o as to prolong the time during which the stock may absorb heat below the' Vaporizing or oxidizing point. From this funnel the banked stock sinks intoia vertical barrel in the form of an upstanding tube or pipeI 12, which forms part of the pre-heating Magazine and extends down through the center-of a preliminary heating oven in tle rorm of a stack 13, this arrangement forming an annu- .tar flue or oven of great height in proportion to its diameter, permitting extensive circulation of hot gases, and conducing to the absorption of heat from the gas, and also proi longing the time used by the stock for its 'descent or progress,'thereby extending the period during which the descending s craps are exposed inthe magazine to the heat of theoven. .Said barrel lmay be formed of heat-resisting metal, such for example as nichrome, or a specialsteel casting.

From the magazine the highly heated metal stock sinks into a. second barrel forming a retort 14 of refractory material opening at the to into the magazine-bar rel 12, and erecte on endLwithin the dame-chamber 15 of a furnace 15. The flame-chamber has at itslower portion a series of burners 16 spaced evenly around the furnace andl all connected by pipes 17 to a main 18 for supplying a fuel mixture, Whichis usually compressed air and gas; the supply being controlled in any suitable way, as by a valve 19.

lrVhile the stock, owing to the great absorbing surfacesof the lumps and scraps, absorbs much heat in descending through the ma ga'- zine, still it is not yet brought tomelting heat, where evaporation or oxidation would take place, because nothing but the products ofcombustion enter the flue or oven 13. The

I,heat inthe flame-chamber 15 is necessarily high, and has a corresponding efectupon the descending .stock that reaches the retort, so that said stock is softened by the heat and rendered plastic, and the pieces of metal tend to amalgamate, as indicated at 32. and'to consolidateinto a softened but still solid and' dense mass in the lower part of the crucible, thepdensity preventing oxidation. At this time the descending mass becomes liquescent from the great heat to which it is exposed' molten liquid from rising within the Crucible or from'overheating the overlying stock.

AAt no point is the unmelted stock exposed.

to. direct attack of the flames. The stock,

whilestill unrnelted, absorbs almost enough heaty to effect its melting, so that the work ,ofthe apparatus is almost fully accomplished before-the metal reaches the evaporating or oxidizing point, While the entire cost is reduced to a very low point. The only contact of flame with metal is at the surface of the melted metal in the pot, but the duration ofthe contact is short, and vloss from oXidation or evaporation isminimized.

The melted metal flows from the bottom of the ret/ort 14 through outlets 20, of which any required number may be formed by scalloping the bottom edge of the crucible barrel '14, and is collected by a pot 22, u on the floor 21 of which the bottomless cruci le stands, said floor forming a hearth. The pot or collecting basin is 4formed of refractory material and lits within the furnace below the burners, and forms the lower portion of the flamechamber. The basin-Hoor slopes towards the left, where it is formed with a tap-hole 23 leading to a discharge-spout 24, the tap-hole being closed by a removable plug 2'5. At fifteen or twenty minute intervals, or as often as the molten fluid rises nearly to the top of the pot 22, the plug 25 may be removed'and the fluid withdrawn from the pot andthe plug replaced.

-The flames from the burners raise the metal at vthe lower part of the retort to the melting point, and maintain at that point the metal which flows into the pot 22. At the same time a great part of the heat from the flames is conserved by permitting the partly cooled products of combustion to escape upwardly through an annular or restricted passage or vent 26, formed in the to'p of the dame-chamber, into theovcn 13, and much of the heat is diameter of the pre-heating barrel 12 therein,l

stock as it sinks through said barrel. l

'In the top of the oven .may be formed an uptake or passage 27 around thene'clr of the barrel 12, this passage being constricted so as torender it practicable to confine the highly heated' gas within the flame-chamber for meltingpurposes. The barrel may be p'rovided with a cap or fiange 28 having outlets 29 through which the hot gases may continue 'sothat much heat is absorbed by the metal up into an' annular conical chamber 3() sur- 'rounding the funnel 11, thereby initially heating the pieces of metal in said funnel; the relatively cooled products of combustion wasting through vents 3l in the top of said The furnace may have a heavy lining of refractory material, including a base-piece provided with a rim 33, in which iits the pot 22, and also including a cylindrical body-portion 34 resting on-said rim 33. and further including a cap 35, which may be of the same diarn eter as the body 34 and the bottom 33, and having the aforesaid small central passage or opening 26 around the retort. This refractory material maybe jacketed with non-conducting material 36, which may be enclosed in a metal case 37 having a sheet-metal boitom 38. The flue or oven 13 may have a tubular refractory lining 39 resting upon the cap 35, whereby escape of gases is prevented; and at its top the oven may have a cap 40 resting upon the lining 39, said cap having the constricted central opening 27 around the neck of the barrel 12. This refractory cylinder 39 may have a jacket 41 of non-conducting ma-A terial, which may be enclosed ina tubular sheet-metal sheath 42. The flange 28 may rest upon the cap 40; A non-conducting conical lining 43 may surround the chamber i', or passage 30,- and may be supported by a sheet-metal cone 44 secured upon the top of the .cap 40. At its top the funnel 11 may be provided with a. broad brim 45 having at` its outer edge a flange 46 setting down over the brim of the cone 44 to prevent scraps of metal from finding their Way into the iiues, but permitting the removal of the funnel, Whose lower end fits down into the top of the barrel 12. It will be noticed that the escape of the products of combustion is prevented at all points except through the vents 31, through which the gas escapes after a substantial portion of its heat has been absorbed by the metaly bodies. The lower part of the upper. barrel 12 sets down into the retort 14 sufficiently to prevent gas from escaping from the iue 13 into the barrel. l

lAt its lower part the retort 14 may have convergent or conical sides, as at 47, so that as the loose scraps become softened and compacted, they may amalgamate choice the narrowed foot of the Crucible, and prevent the molten metal from flowing up within the Crucible, and also prevent undue heating. evaporation or oxidation of the contents of the Crucible and the pre-heating devices.

The furnace is supported by hanging, so that when it is desired to repair the furnace, bolts 48, which are used to support the furnace from a stand 49, are loosened, thereby lpermit-ting the furnace to drop upon the fioor of the furnace-room. These bolts are threaded through ears 50, projecting from the' sides of the furnace at its top. The stand rests upon legs 51. There may be provided, under the bottom 38 of the furnace. rolls. 52, which rest upon the ioor and permit the furnace to be trundled away, thereby giving access to the retort 14 and other portions. After repairs are made, the furnace-body may be rolled back under the stand, and by means of the bolts 48 may be raised suiiicientiy to close the top slab 35 against the bottom of the upper lining 39, and bring the upper end of the crucible 14 around the lower end of the barrel 12. An observation opening 53 may be pro- -vided at the bottom of the flame-chamber 1. A melter including a magazine for'loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and a Crucible into which the barrel discharges, and a furnace within which the Crucible 1s supported, said furnace provided with a cony stricted vent, whereby the heat is confinedin the furnace at a metal-melting temperature, and an oven intoV which said `vent discharges, said barrel confined within said oven.

2. A melter including a magazine for loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and a crucible`into which the barrel discharges, and a furnace Within which the Crucible is supported, said furnace having burners for compressed air and fluid fuel opening into the lower part of the furnace, said furnace provided with a constricted vent, whereby the heat is confined in the furnace ata metalmelting temperature, and an oven into which said vent discharges, said barrel confined within'isaid oven. y

3. A melter including a magazine for loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and a Crucible into which the barrel discharges, a furnace within which the Crucible is supported. said furnace having burners for compressed air and fluid fuel opening into thev lower part ofthe furnace, said furnace provided with a constricted vent, and a flue within which said barrel is arranged, said vent opening in said fiue, whereby the partly cooled products of combustion from the furnace are caused to circulate around the upper part of the column of stock and pre-heat the same to a point substantially below the heat of the furnace, said liuc having a vent.

4. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber. a pot in the furnace, a retort in the flame chamber Iand discharging into the pot, a barrel surmounting the, retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock, and a flue carrying off the products of combustion from said iiame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein.

5. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort y J in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, a barrel surmountino` the retort and discharging thereinto and frdrming With the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock,

and a flue carrying off the products-of combustion from said flame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said retort having an opening at the bottom and seated in the pot, and said opening permitting the melted metal from the retort to collect in the pot.

6. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort 'in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot,fa barrel surmounting the retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock, and a flue carrying off the products of combustion from said flame chamberand surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said retort having an opening'at the bottom and seated in the pot, and said opening permitting the melted metal from the retort to collect in the pot, said furnace having burners for a mixture of compressed air and fuel and also having a burner for burni'ng a supply of raw gas in proportion of about 5 per cent of the volume of mixed air and fuel.

7. A melter including a furnace having a. fiame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, a barrel surmounting the retort and v`v`'discharging thereinto and forming with the gil) pot, a bari-el surmounting the retort and disf i'harging thereinto and forming with the i'etort a magazine for a column of metal stock, a flue carrying off the products of Combustion kfrom said flame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pie-heat the stock therein, said magazine having at its upper end a funnel in which the stock is deposited, and means for pre-heating the stock while it is in Said funnel and bringing it to a higher heat while it is in said barrel,

, 9. n combination` a funnel, a barrel into which the funnel discharges, a retort into which the barrel discharges, a furnace havling a flame chamber, said retort within said ine chamber and discharging melted metal lower end, means for Collecting the melted metal, and. a flue surrounding said barrel for causing the partly cooled products of combustion to circulate around the barrel, said flame chamber having a constricted vent which opens into said flue, said vent of a proportion to maintain the flame chamber at metal-meltingheat and the Work in said barrel at substantially lower heat.

l0. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, abarrel surmounting the retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the ref tort a magazine for a columnof metal stock,`

and a fluefcarrying ofi the products of combustion from said flame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said retort having an opening at thebottom and seated in the pot, and said opening permitting the melted metal from the retort to collect in the pot, said flame chamber having at its lower portion a series `of burners for a fuel mixture.

1l. In combination, a` funnel, a barrel into which the funnel discharges, a retort into which the barrel discharges, a furnace having a flame chamber, said retort within said flame chamber and discharging melted metal at its lower epd, and a' flue surrounding said barrel for causing the products of coinbus-` tion to circulate around the barrel, said flame chamber having at its lower portion a series of burners for a fuel mixture, said re.

tort setting within a pot which collects the melted liquid, the top of said pot being below ythe burners in the furnace and being provided with a tap hole".

12. Incombination, a funnel, a barrel int.,

which the funnel discharges, a retort into which the barrel discharges, a furnace having a flame chamber, said retort Within saidA 'flame chamber and discharging melted metal at its ower end, a flu'e surrounding said barrel for causing the products of combustion to circulate around the barrel, said flame' chamber having at its lowerv portion a series of burners for a fuel mixture, and a collecting pot for the melted metal, said retort being entirely open at its lower end and resting upon the floor 'of the pot. and having scallops in its bottom edge vfor escape of melted liquid into the pot.

13. A, inelter lincluding a magazine for loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and a crucible into which the barrel discharges, a furnace within which the Crucible sufficiently constricted to preserve the lieat of the furnace at a fa`r higher point than the heat of the flue.

14. In combination, a funnel, a barrel into which the funnel discharges, a retort into CII which the barrel discharges, a furnace havinga flame chamber, said retort within said flame chamber and discharging melted metal at its lower end, means for collecting the melted metal, a flue surrounding said barrel for causing the products of `combustion to circulate around the barrel, an 11p-take leading from the top of the flue and up around said funnel, and thereby exposing the stock to heat while it is in the funnel, and a vent at the top ofthe 11p-take for the partly cooled gas.

15. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, a barrel surmounting the retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock, a flue carrying off the products of combustion from said flame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said furnace having a refractory base or bed provided'with arim within which said pot is confined, a cylindrical body resting on said rim, and a cap suriounding the upper part of said retort and leaving a constricted passage to the flue in Whichfsaid bar rel is arranged.

16. A nielter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, a barrel surinounting the retort and discharging theieinto and forming with the retort a magazine'for a column of metal stock, a flue carrying off the products of combustion from said flame chamber and surrounding said bari'el to pre-heat the stock therein, said furnace having a refractory base or bed provided with a rim Within whichsaid pot is confined, a cylindrical body resting on said rim, a cap surrounding the upper part of saidl retort and leaving a constricted passage to the flue in which said barrel is arranged, and a cap fo,n the top of said flue, said cap having a constricted opening to said'flue surroundinathe neck of the barrel.

`17. A melter including a furnace having a flame chamber, a pot in the furnace, a retort l in the flame chamber and discharging into the pot, a barrel surmounting the retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock, a flue carrying off the products of combiistion from saidflame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein. said furnace having a refractory base orlied provided with a rim Within which said .'pot is confined, a-cylintlrical body resting on said rim,fa cap surrounding the upper part of said retort and leaving a eonstricted passage to the flue in which said barrel is arranged, a cap for the top of said flue, said cap having a eonstricted opening to said flue 'surrounding the neck of the barrel, a chamber to which said constricted opening leads, anif .Tunnel pot, a barrel surinounting the retort and discharging thereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for a column of metal stock, a flue carrying off the products of combustion from said flame chamber and' surrounding Asaid barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said furnace having a refractory base or bed-pio vided with a rim Within which said pot is confined, a cylindrical body resting on said rim` a cap surrounding the upper part of said retort and leaving a constricted passage to the flue in which said barrel is arranged, a cap for the top of said flue, said cap having a constricted opening to said flue surrounding the neck of the barrel, achamber to which said constricted opening leads, and a funnel within said chamber, the latter having at its top a vent for the partly cooled-products of combustion, said funnel having at its topa broad brim which fits'down over the edge of said chamber; the lower end of the funnel fitting down Within the top of the barrel.

19. A inelter including a magazine for loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and a retort into which the barrel discharges, a furnace Within Which the retort is supported, said furnace. having burners for compressed air and fluid fuel opening into the lower part of the furnace, and a flue Withinl Which said barrel is arranged,'said furnace having a-constricted vent opening into said flue, whereby the partly cooled products of combustion from the furnace are caused to circulate around the upper part of the column of stock and pre-heat the same, the llower part of the barrel setting down into Ithe retort to prevent gas.from escaping from the flue into the barrel, said vent of proportions to pi'eseive the furnace at metal-melting heat and the work in said barrel at a substantially lower heat.

' 20. A melter including a furnace having a flame cli-amber, a pot inthe Ifurnace, a retort in theflanie chamber anddischarging into the pot, a barrel surmounting the retort and discharging tliereinto and forming with the retort a magazine for -a column of nietal stock, and a flue carrying offl the products of combustion from said flame chamber and surrounding said barrel to pre-heat the stock therein, said retort having an opening at 4the bottom and seated in the pot,- and said opening permitting the melted metal' from the retort to collect in the pot, said retort tapering at its lower end to conduce to formation of the softened stock into a compact mass.`

2l. A melter including a magazine for loose stock, said magazine including a barrel and aretort into Which the barrel discharges, a furnace within which the retortl is supported, said furnace having burners for compressed air and fluid fuel opening' into the lower part of the retort,. a flue within which said barrel is arranged, said flue in communication with the furnace, 'whereby the products of combustion from the furnace re caused to circulate around the upper part of the column of stock and pre-heat the same, the lower part of the barrel setting down into the retort to prevent gas from escaping from the flue into the barrel, and means suspending` said furnace above the ioor and permitting it to be dropped sufliciently to enable the retort to clear the lower end of4 the barrel.

22. A melter including a magazine for charges, a furnace` within which the retort is supported, said furnace having burners for compressed air and fluid fuel opening into the lower part of the retort, a flue Within which said barr'el is arranged, said flue inA communication with the furnace, whereby the products of combustion, from the furnace are caused to circulate around the upper part of the column of stock and pre-heat the same, the lower' part of the barrel setting down intothe retort to prevent gas from escaping from the flue into the barrel, means suspending said furnace above the floor and permitting it to be dropped sulliciently to enable the retort to clear the lower end of the barrel, and rolls upon said furnace for transportation.

ADoLPH W; MACHLET. 

